Incandescent lamp socket and switch



March 20, 1951 H. c. RoBERTsoN 2,545,860

INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET AND SWITCH Filed May' 1, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 1INVENTOR. Hmz/@Y C. /Qoaee TSO/v T i BY v March 20, 1951 H. c. ROBERTSONINCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET AND SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l, 1948INVENTOR. HAPPY C. ROBERTSON Patented Mar. 20, 1951 INCANDESCENT LAMPSOCKET AND SWITCH Harry C. Robertson, New York, N. Y.

Application May 1, 1948, Serial No. 24,589 n 7 claims. (ci. aoc-51.15)

. This invention is -a lamp socket andthe object of the invention is togreatly simplify socket-construction, economize in the manufacture ofthe individual parts and facilitate assembly of these parts to form asimple and `eflicient end product. These objects arerattained throughthe construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter'more fullydescribed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments ofthe invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

1 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of plug structure embodying the presentinvention, a portion of the interior screw shell being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end viewlooking into the open end of the screw shell.

Fig. 4 (constituting all of sheet 2) is a perspective view showing thedifferent parts of the socket separated from one another, so that theirindividual structure may be more clearly illustrated. 'v Figs. 5 and 6are fragmental perspectives showing switch operating cams for use inpush and finger button sockets.

l By reference first to Fig. 4.I-I indicate two identical body sectionswhich may be conveniently molded or vcast from any appropriate organicplastic. Each is of rectangular box-like form with one open side, sothat when the two sections are brought together with their open sides inedge abutting relation, they will collectively form a hollow7 closedrectangular body. 4In the abutting faces of the two sections are formedslots 2 which extend downwardly and are undercut as indicated at 3, sothat each of these slots is substantially L-shaped. When the twosections are assembled, the registering slots 2 and 3 of the twosections collectively form two inverted T-shaped cavities adapted toreceive correspondingly shaped tongues 4 stamped from the opposite sidesof the inturned end flange 5 of the inner shell 6. This engagementbetween the T-shaped tongues and the slots 2 and 3 serve as the soleattaching means between the inner shell 6 and the sections I-I and solong as the sections remain in edge abutting relation, the shell 6 willbe locked to the socket body. If desired, the upper edges 'i of thelateral wings of the T-shaped tongues may slope slightly downwardly andthe upperedges of the undercut slots 3 may be similarly congurated, sothat, when the sections are assembled, they will draw the tongues 4downwardly to seat the ange 5.of.the shell 6 firmly on the upper surfaceof the top wall of the body.

The abuttingedges of the two sections are also provided with slots 8,these being duplicated at the opposite sides of the medial plane ofeach` post I3, molded on the interior of each section,Y

holds'this shoulder against the under side of this wall. Beyond the postI3, the member 9 is bent to form a spring I4, the free end of whichconstitutes a switch contact.

When the portion II is placed in companion.

I slots 8, the part contact I0 will be centrally located with respect tothe shell to engage the center contact of a lamp screwed into the shell.The parts II'and I2 of the member 9 are offset later-Y ally so that thespring I4 will lie closely adjacent the inner flat surface of one of theside walls of.

the body and be free to be exed into and out of engagement with a fixedcontact Iii.

This latter contact is in the form of a ange on the upper end of aterminal plate I5 provided, intermediate its ends, with a stamped prongI1 and having a threaded hole I8. The plate I5 is` adapted to be placedagainst the outer surface of the appropriate section I with the contactflange Il extending through a slot I9 in said sec tion and into spacedrelation with the spring I4. The plate I5 is held in place by forcingthe prong Il, which may be serrated, through a perforation 2Q formed insaid section. When this prong is pressed into place, it tightly gripsthe plastic wall of the section within the perforation 25 andthe plateis thus secured rigidly and permanently in position. The threaded holeI8 in said plate is aliried with a perforation 2| in the section andthese two alined perforations receive screw 22 (Fig. l) for binding oneelectrical feed wire to the plate I5.

The other terminal of the socket is in the form of a plate 23, providedwith a similar attaching prong 24 to be forced into a perforation 25 inthe other section. The upper end of the plate 23 screw 21 passes througha tapped ho le 28 in the plate 23 and enters a perforation 29 in thecorre-v spending section to serve as a binding means for the otherelectrical lead wire for the grounded side of the shell.

The contact spring I4 is normally biased so as to be free fromengagement with the contact i6. To energize a lamp associated with thesocket, it is necessary to engage the spring with the contact flange IBand in accordance with the present invention, this is accomplishedthrough the employment of a cam which may be operated by opposed pushbuttons or by a manually rotatable finger piece or by a pull chain.These several types of construction are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, the cam in each instance beingy indicated by the referencecharacter 30.

Figs. 1-4, which show the pull chain type of socket, embody a camoperating ratchet, a bias-v ing spring, a pull chain, and a chain guide.The ratchet is formed of two parts. One part 3l is` mounted on the backof the cam 30 and is rigid therewith. It is provided with four radialratchet teeth 32 arranged at 90 intervals. The other part of the ratchetis in the form of a plate 33 from which is stamped four tongues 34 tofunction as the pawls of the ratchet. The plate has a laterallyextending arm 35 to which the pull chain 36 is attached. The biasingspring is indicated at 31 with one end 38 adapted to hook under the edgeof the arm 35 and its other end 39. adapted to extend into theperforation 2U of the adjacent section 2. This perforation is availablefor this purpose as the corresponding perforation in the other section lis serving to receive the prong ll. The cam, ratchet sections and springare assembled upon a shaft 40, passed through alined holes 4i centrallyarranged in the two sections l-L This shaft may be of' tubular form withits opposite ends flanged over against the exteriors of the oppositewalls of the respective sections to hold the shaft in place and` at thesame time maintain the sections in assembled relation with theircontacting edges rmly abutting one another. The pull chain is adapted toextend through av pull chain guide 42 gripped within complementaryregistering cut-outs or slots 43 formed in the abutting edges of thesections I-I and held in place when the sections are locked in assembledrelation.

With the construction shown in these figures, each operation of the pullchain will angularly shift the cam 90 for said cam is of substantiallyrectangular form. with alternate high and low phases whereby, throughsuccessive operations f the` cam, the spring I4 will be engaged with anddisengaged from the fixed contact flange I6.

When the ends of the shaft are flanged outwardly, they serve to lock thesections I-l together. This constitutes a thoroughly effective means formaintaining the parts in assembled relation. However, if desired, theinner flange of the shell 6 may be stamped to provide tongues 43 (Figs.1-3), adapted to be bent downwardly to overlie the opposite sides of therespective sections l-l to form an additional lock.

If the plug of this invention is to be used as al push button plug, thestructure of Fig. 5 may be used. Here the 01T and On push buttons areindicated at 44 and 45. They are secured to the opposite ends of a pushrod 46 which passes through alined perforations in the opposite sides ofthe socket body. The rod has an. upstanding actuating post 41 adapted toextend between the arms of a fork 48 rigid with a cam 3U. When the pushbutton 44 is operated, the cam is rotated anti-clockwise into theposi-tion shown in Fig. 5 to de-energize the socket. Whenthe push button45 is operated, the cam is rotated 90 clockwise, to complete the circuitthrough the socket.

In the structure of Fig. 6, the cam is axed to a shaft 4a whichcorresponds to the shaft 40 and which may be passed through theperforations I4 in the sections I-L One end of the shaft 40a is extendedsomewhat so that it is adapted to receive a nger piece 49 whereby thecam may be manually rotated to close or break the circuit to the lamp.

The socket body with attached internal screw shell to receive the lampis adapted to be enclosed within a conventional outer shell and cap withinterposed insulating sleeve (not shown) in the usual manner. When thestructure is to be associated with a husk, an appropriate hickey isrequired.A Such a hickey may be secured to the socket body in a simpleand convenient manner by forming it as shown in Fig. 4. Here the hickeyis illustrated as comprising an angle plate 50, the upright portion ofwhich is notched at its opposite edges, as indicated at 5I, to provide aT- shaped head 52. The horizontal portion of the plate carries aninternally threaded boss 54 to screw onto the xture or xture tube, asthe case may be. The lower meeting edges of both ofthe two sections l--lare slotted, as shown at 55 in Fig. LLto receive the upright portion ofthe angle plate with the head 52 within the socket body and with thewalls of the sections contiguous with the slots 55 extending into thenotches 5l to rmly secure the hickey to the socket body.

The Various parts of the sockety structure hereinbefore described may beassembled in a simple and economical manner and inasmuch as the shellsections are identical with one another, they may be made through theuse of a single mold and used as either rightsl and lefts. No nutscrews, bolts or other extraneous attaching devices need be used tomaintain the parts in assembled relation.

The flanged shaft 4U constitutes atie rod which will insure theintegrity of the assembly, although, if the tongues 4'3 are employed,they alone will hold the sections [-I in face abutting relation andthus. hold the partsV in proper relation. It is preferable, however, toflange over the opposite ends of the shaft l' after the manner of ahollow rivet so that it functions. not only as. the operating` shaft ofthe socket, but also as the unitary locking means to maintain all theparts in assembled relation.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical forms, but the invention is to be. understood asfully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what IV claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patentr is:

l. A lamp socket comprising: a pair of com,- plementary hollow sectionseach having an open side and` having` slots extending into the sectionfrom the open side thereof, a plurality of metallic socket members, saidsections being assembled with, their open sides in edge abuttingrelation and with. said metallic socket members extending into saidslots for locking engagement therewith so long as the sections are inedge abutting relation, a tie rod extending, transversely through thevopposite walls of both sections for securing the sections in abuttingrelation. a switch operating member mounted on said tie rod, and' a.switch positioned within the assembled sections and operable by theswitch operating member.

2. A lamp socket comprising: a pair of com.-

plementary hollow sections each having an open side and having slotsextending into the section from the open side thereof, a plurality ofmetallic socket members, said sections being assembled with their opensides in edge abutting relation and with said metallic socket membersextending into said slots for locking engagement therewith so long asthe sections are in edge abutting relation, a tie rod extendingtransversely through the opposite walls of both sections for securingthe sections in abutting relation, a switch operating member, a ratchetand a biasing spring all mounted for rotation on said tie rod, and aswitch positioned within the assembled sections and operable by theswitch operating member.

3. A lamp socket comprising: a pair of complementary hollow sectionseach having an open side and having slots extending into the sectionfrom the open side thereof, a plurality of metallic socket members, saidsections being assembled with their open sides inv edge abuttingrelation and with said metallic socket members extending into said slotsfor locking engagement therewith so long as the sections are in edgeabutting relation, a tie rod extending transversely through the oppositewalls of both sections for securing the sections in abutting relation, aswitch operating member mounted on said tie rod, a manually operableelement for actuating said switch operating member, and a switchpositioned within the assembled sections and operable by the switchoperating member.

4. A lamp socket comprising: a pair of complementary hollow sectionseach having an open side and having slots extending into the sectionfrom the open side thereof, a plurality of metallic socket members, saidsections being assembled with their open sides in edge abutting relationand with said metallic socket members extending into said slots forlocking engagement therewith so long as the sections are in edgeabutting relation, a tie rod extending transversely through the oppositewalls of both sections for securing the sections in abutting relation, aswitch operating"y member mounted on said tie rod, a manually operablefinger piece secured to the tie rod for operating the switch operatingmember, yand a switch positioned Within the assembled sections andoperable by the switch operating member.

5. A lamp socket comprising a pair of comp-lementary hollow sectionsassembled with their open sides in edge abutting relation, said sectionsbeing provided with slots extending into the sections from said abuttingedges thereof, a shell seated on one end of the assembled sections andhaving tongues extending into locking engagement with certain of saidslots, a center contact member extending from the interior of the shellthrough other slots into the interior of the assembled sections a-ndthere formed into a spring contact, a terminal plate secured to theexterior of one of said sections and extending through the wall of saidsection and into the interior thereof and forming a complementary fixedContact, another terminal plate secured exteriorly to the other sectionand engaging with the shell, a chain guide extending through other slotsto mount said guide on the assembled sections, a tie rod extendingtransversely through the sections to secure said sections in abuttingrelation, a contact spring operating cam mounted on said tie rod incooperative relation to said spring contact, a ratchet part iixed tosaid cam, a cooperating ratchet part mounted on the tie rod and having achain extending through the chain guide, and a biasing spring one end ofwhich is engaged with the latter ratchet part and the other end of whichis anchored to the adjacent section.

6. A lamp socket comprising: a pair of complementary hollow sectionsassembled with their open sides in edge abutting relation, said sectionsbeing provided with slots extending into the sections from said abuttingedges thereof, a shell seated on one end of the assembled sections andhaving tongues extending into locking engagement with certain of saidslots, a center contact member extending from the interior of the shellthrough other slots into the interior of the assembled sections andthere formed into a spring contact, a terminal plate secured to theexterior of one of said sections and extending through the wall of saidsection and into the interior thereof and forming a complementary xedcontact, another terminal plate secured exteriorly to the other sectionand engaging with the shell, a tie rod extending transversely throughthe sections to secure said sections in abutting relation, a contactspring operating cam mounted on said tie rod in cooperative relation tosaid spring contact, and a manually operable member for rotating saidcam to move the contact spring into and out of engagement with the xedContact.

7. A lamp socket comprising: a pair of complementary hollow sections ofinsulating material each having an open side, a shaft extendingtransversely through said sections and provided with abutments at itsopposite ends exteriorly of the sections to secure the sections togetherwith their open sides in abutting relation, said sections havingregistering slots when in abutting relation to form a slot intersectingthe `joint between them, a combined contact and switch member comprisinga resilient metallic plate, an intermediate portion of the length ofwhich extends through said slot with that portion of the -plateexteriorly of the assembled sections forming a center lamp contact andthat portion within the assembled sections returned upon itself to forma resilient leaf spring contact, a fixed contact within the assembledsections and normally spaced from the leaf spring contact, and amanually operable cam carried by the shaft which secures the sectionstogether, said cam being operable directly upon the resilient leafspring contact to engage the latter with the xed contactY at the will ofthe operator.

HARRY C. ROBERTSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,638 Nichols c Dec. 4, 19061,007,058 Both Oct, 31, 1911 1,257,609 Denhard Mar. 19, 1918 1,628,415Mallett May 10, 1927 1,720,511 Cross July 9, 1929 1,845,424 Lant Feb.16, 1932 2,114,826 Zelov Apr. 19, 1938 2,427,464 Lagin Sept. 16, 1947

